September is World Alzheimer’s Month, with World Alzheimer’s Day taking place on 21 September each year.
- Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, it affects us all and it devastates lives.
- Every 3 minutes someone in the UK develops dementia.
- 1 in 3 people born in the UK today will go on to develop dementia in their lifetime.
Common symptoms of dementia
Each person experiences dementia in their own individual way. Different types of dementia also tend to affect people differently, especially in the early stages.
However, there are some common early signs and symptoms of dementia. These include:
- Memory loss – For example, forgetting things that happened recently, problems with recall.
- Difficulty concentrating, planning or organising – For example, struggling to make decisions, solve problems or follow a series of steps (such as cooking a meal).
- Problems with language and communication – For example, difficulties finding the right words, struggling to respond appropriately or follow a conversation.
- Misunderstanding what is being seen – For example, misidentifying things, struggling to judge distance (such as on stairs), and misinterpreting reflections, or hallucinating.
- Being confused about time or place – For example, losing track of the time or date, or becoming confused about where they are, or what time of their life they are in.
- Mood changes or difficulty controlling emotions – For example, becoming unusually anxious, irritable, sad or frightened, losing interest in things and personality changes.
Help us beat dementia
Alzheimer’s Society are leading the way to create a future where dementia no longer devastates lives, bringing together people from all the spheres of life it touches.
This World Alzheimer’s Month, we’re asking you to help us beat dementia. Join us now by donating to fund vital research, volunteering your time, campaigning to improve experiences, or becoming a Dementia Friend.
For more information visit World Alzheimer’s Month | Alzheimer’s Society
